9 Monkeys Died in a Zoo, Officials Revealed What Killed Them
A cause of death has been determined for nine monkeys who died over two days in a Hong Kong zoo earlier this week, officials have announced.
The primates at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens contracted melioidosis, Kevin Yeung, secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said in a press briefing on Friday, Oct. 18, CBS News reported.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines melioidosis as “a bacterial infection in people and animals” that “is spread through contact with contaminated soil, air, or water.”
Yeung added that the melioidosis, which likely was the result of work done near their cages that involved digging, caused the monkeys to develop sepsis.
The zoo had been working to repair irrigation pipes under flower beds near their cages earlier in the month.
“We’re saddened by the passing of the nine monkeys,” the official said. “The incubation period for melioidosis in primates is about a week and this matched with the period after the soil digging work.”
According to both CBS News and the Associated Press, the first eight monkeys died on Sunday, Oct. 13. The following day, another died after exhibiting strange behavior.
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The nine deceased monkeys included one De Brazza’s monkey — an Old World monkey endemic to the riverine and swamp forests of central Africa, a common squirrel monkey — which are native to tropical areas in South America, three cotton-top tamarins — a New World monkey considered to be one of the smallest primates, and four white-faced sakis.
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Cotton-top tamarins “are one of the most endangered species of primates in the world,” with less than 6,000 remaining in the wild, per the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
CBS and AP News added that another De Brazza’s monkey had shown changes in its behavior and appetite, but was in stable condition as of Friday.
Officials also said the chance for humans to become sick from the melioidosis outbreak was low.
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens opened in 1871, and is the oldest park in the former British colony.
